When the Bruins signed free agent defenseman Dan Renouf again on July 13, it created barely a ripple within the consciousness of most native hockey followers.
The University of Maine product had performed a complete of 23 NHL video games in his seven-year professional profession for Detroit and Colorado, probably the most in a single season being 18 in 2020-21 for the Avalanche. But he earned a couple of attaboys from coach Jim Montgomery in coaching camp and, when Brandon Carlo was knocked out of the lineup after being dazed on a Liam O’Brien hit final Saturday, the left-shooting Renouf was the primary to get the call-up regardless of the paucity of proper shot defenders.
While Renouf and Montgomery share a Black Bear heritage, it was when Montgomery was teaching Dubuque of the USHL and Renouf was taking part in for Youngstown that the coach first grew to become aware of Renouf..
“He was the best defenseman on the other team and it was a real tough playoff series, so I know how smart he is, how poised he is,” mentioned Montgomery on Monday morning. “He manages the game well and I think he’s going to help us (Monday) against a team you need to manage the game against.”
The insertion of Renouf into the lineup on Monday in opposition to the Florida Panthers meant the B’s had been going with 5 left-handed defenseman. Renouf was going to begin the sport taking part in his offside on a 3rd pair with Jakub Zboril whereas Mike Reilly was set to bump as much as play his off facet with Hampus Lindholm. Derek Forbort and Connor Clifton had been the one left-right combo.
“It is (a challenge), just because you like people on their strong sides,” mentioned Montgomery. “It’s easier to see the whole ice. Your body is turned receive to the pass….so it provides it’s challenges but we think it’s the right D corps to help us win.”
One of the issues that made Renouf the candidate to return up – except for the truth that he’s the kind of stay-at-home D-men they had been on the lookout for to exchange Carlo – was the truth that he’s effectively versed in taking part in the precise facet, having accomplished all of it final yr with Grand Rapids and the Red Wings.
“It’s important to have that in my toolbox, so I’m excited to show it,” mentioned Renouf.
While the 28-year-old is aware of who he’s as a participant, he doesn’t imagine he must be fully unnoticed within the B’s new aggressive aggressive method.
“That’s my bread and butter, being the guy who’s steady and stays back,” mentioned Renouf. “But I think from my time at UMaine and from my rookie year, I think I’ve incorporated getting up the ice and being part of the breakouts and kind of being able to create offensively and in the O-zone. So it’s something I’ve working on my whole career, being a 200-foot player.”
Though he was excited to play in his first ever recreation on the Garden, he feels he’s been round lengthy sufficient to not be fully wowed by the expertise.
“I’ve been here before,” he mentioned. “I’ve played some games (in the NHL) and I kind of know what I’ve got to do. I’m just enjoying every day and making sure I make the most of this opportunity.”…
The B’s had been set to get a double-dose of Tkachuks, with Matthew on the town on Monday after which in Ottawa on Tuesday to face Brady.
Montgomery, who has a house in St. Louis the place the Tkachuks had been raised and coached with the Blues for 2 years, paid Matthew a fairly excessive praise for the sandpaper model with which he performs.
“I think there’s a price to pay for it, and it’s an attitude, right?” mentioned Montgomery. “It’s pretty impressive for someone like Matthew Tkachuk to have that. You’re a fifth overall pick, his Dad (Keith) should be a Hall of Famer, so he grew up privileged – and he doesn’t act like a privileged young man. It’s very impressive. It speaks volumes about Keith Tkachuk and his wife Chantelle, his parents. And it speaks volumes about the kid. And we’ve got another one we’re facing on Tuesday night.”….
Clifton was the lone righty in Monday’s lineup, however he mentioned that’s occurred earlier than.
“My first year in (Providence), I felt like I was the only righty in the organization. When I was getting scratched, we were dressing six left-handed D,” he mentioned with a chuckle.
Whether that interprets as extra icetime for him remained to be seen however once they misplaced Carlo on Saturday late within the first interval, he skated 24:06.
“I felt great, honestly,” mentioned Clifton. “Generally, the more you play, you just get out there and play. You know you’re going next and then the shift after that. You just kind of lock it in and just keep going.”…
After Trent Frederic earned a wholesome scratch within the season opener with a low affect coaching camp, Montgomery preferred what he noticed from Frederic and his line with Charlie Coyle and A.J. Greer, which chipped in for 3 targets in opposition to Arizona.
“I liked what I saw from him and loved what I saw from the line,” mentioned Montgomery. “I thought they were connected. I thought they fed off each other’s energy and their physicality. They were going every shift, them and the fourth line. Now the key is, can they do it again? Consistency in the middle of three in four, being that physical, having your feet moving. That’s what need. Now they need to show they can do it night in and night out.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com